RIYADH, 20 February 2006 — The Janadriya Festival attracts thousands of Saudis and GCC residents to enjoy the culture and heritage it offers. Now foreign dignitaries and reporters are coming to the popular festival — and coming away from it with a better idea of the Kingdom’s true nature.
Arab News tried to catch some of the visiting delegates to get their impressions of the festival.
“When I heard about Saudi Arabia, the first thing came to my mind that it was merely tents and camels, but when I came here it was totally different,” said Belgian journalist Philip Maldeghem. “The modernity, development in several areas, hospitality and the richness of the heritage I experienced during my visit proved the converse and changed my negative impression into a positive one.”
Yes, there are big cities, highways, airports and that kind of stuff, but everybody still seems to love the camels.
“The most interesting thing I enjoyed at the festival was to ride the camel and to learn about its extraordinary features,” said German TV producer Peter Schroeder. “This experience will be etched in my mind.”
“The festival’s wide range of activities was an inspiration,” said a French painter. “They gave me many ideas, and I started working on two new paintings. One is of Saudi Arabia’s beautiful landmarks, namely the Najdi mud-built house. The other is of the Bedouin black-colored tent.”
“We have festivals similar to this in the US, but what you have here in Janadriya is unbelievable,” an American visitor told Arab News. “You can’t cover all the pavilions and handicraft boutiques in a few hours. This festival is both a local and international event. It has been well organized, and I’d like to thank the organizers and the people of Saudi Arabia for their friendliness and hospitality.”
